Rapper l one biography. L'One - biography
Black Star (2012 - present)
Levan Emzarovich Gorozia(cargo. ლევან ემზარის ძე გოროზია ; genus. October 9 (1985-10-09 ) , Krasnoyarsk, USSR), better known under the pseudonym L'One- Russian rapper of Georgian origin, former member of the Phlatline association, who founded the WDKTZ (weedkatz) project together with DJ Pill.One, co-founder and former member of the group Marselle. Since 2012, he began solo work on the Black Star label. Owner of his own clothing line “Cosmokot”, produced under the Black Star Wear brand.
Biography
Levan was born on October 9, 1985 in Krasnoyarsk. His father is Georgian, and his mother is Russian. When he was four years old, his parents decided to move to the village of Delgey, in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). There he and his family lived on the banks of the Lena River.
Before the war, Levan and his family had a house in the city of Sukhum. At that time, his parents studied at the university, graduated from it and received an education in Krasnoyarsk, and their child often stayed with his grandparents, who, in fact, raised their beloved grandson.
Levan himself admits that his dad was very strict with him as a child, trying to instill Georgian values, and his mother always supported and treated his hobbies with understanding. Although his dad participated in theatrical productions in his youth, perhaps these genes were passed on to Levan.
I remember how before my younger brother arrived from the maternity hospital with his mother, I ran around the house like a top and cleaned up. I wanted Mer to come to a clean house. My father brought my mother and brother, and I instantly realized that I had already become the eldest with all the ensuing aspects...
L'One about his younger brother
In 1991, Levan entered first grade. He admitted that he was an athletic teenager and passed the GTO standards with excellent marks. Until the ninth grade, I got A's and B's. After graduation primary school, Levan and his family moved to Yakutsk for permanent residence.
At that time, Levan played basketball, playing in the national team of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and becoming captain number 12. It was this sport that played an important role in his life - it instilled in Levan the desire to work and win, and also introduced the concept of team spirit. However, a knee injury suffered during one of the games forced him to retire from the sport.
It was then that Levan began to get involved in hip-hop culture, listening to Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Onyx and 2pac. In one of his interviews, he admitted that he began writing rap lyrics at the age of 13, and with the advent of the Internet, he began to master programs for creating music.
Later, the group released the mixtape “We’re in the Club” together with ST.
In 2009, the mixtape “Phlatline in da building” was released, dedicated to the label’s fifth anniversary. This disc featured new works by Marcelle and ST. In support of the compilation, a video clip was shot for the track Marselle and ST - “In Your House”. Marcelle successfully performed concerts with various musicians and DJ Booch. The same year, the Mars FM podcast was introduced.
With the release of the song “Moscow” and their debut album, the performers gained fame and began touring around the country. The track “Moscow” took first place in the Next FM hit parade for 32 weeks.
In 2010, Levan released the mixtape “L” together with DJ Pill.One.
In 2011, a video was released for the track “Moscow”, the release of which was sponsored by Timur Bekmambetov, making the composition the soundtrack to the film “Phantom”.
On March 31, 2011, the group Marselle, ST and DJ Booch ended their collaboration with the hip-hop agency Phlatline for unknown reasons. .
On January 21, 2012, Levan announced that due to creative differences, the Marselle group had broken up forever. Levan later explained that the answer to the question of why the group broke up can be found in Nel’s track “Don’t care”: “Someone doesn’t care, but someone wants to work. The main reason for the breakup of the group is a different approach to work."
I received an offer to work together with the Black Star team, we met, discussed work issues and decided to do one thing together. I believe that Black Star is a team of professionals, in collaboration with whom we will be able to show a new level of Hip-Hop in Russia.
On June 13, he released the track #LET'S DATE and the official video for it together with Timati, Nel, ST, Jenee, 5 Plyukh and Misha Krupin.
On July 18, he released the track Tattoo and a video for it again together with Timati, Dzhigan, Karandash, Varchun and Krek.
On September 5, Karandash released his sixth studio album, “American 2,” in which Levan and two other rappers, MO and Big Som, took part in the recording of the joint track “Ok,” and on November 25 they released a video for it. The video was filmed in the city of Alma-Ata.
On April 23 he released his first studio album “Sputnik”. It included 14 tracks, the recording of which was attended by guest performers - Timati, Kristina Si, Sasha Chest, Pavel Murashov, Tina Smith and Ms. Sounday. On October 3, 2012, a video was shot for the track “Monday”, and a year later - for the remaining 3 tracks from this album:
- February 13 - “Everyone is dancing with their elbows”;
- April 26 - “The future is somewhere nearby” together with Timati;
- September 5 - “I’ll be young”
Ukraine gave me a New Year's gift by banning entry for three years. Thank you, and happy new year to you... What makes this situation even more absurd is our nomination with Monatic for the National Music Award of Ukraine.
L’One about the ban on entry to Ukraine
On November 18, Verkhovna Rada deputy Vladimir Parasyuk addressed the head of the SBU Vasily Gritsak with a request to ban entry. As noted, Levan gave concerts in the same month in Kyiv, Dnieper, Kharkov and Poltava. And he was banned from Ukraine for illegal entry and performances in Crimea. Parasyuk wrote about this to the Ukrainian football player and his friend Roman Zozula on his Facebook:
Citizen Russian Federation Gorozia Levan Emzarovich (“L’One”) was issued a decree banning entry into Ukraine for a period of three years.
No one has the right to illegally visit Ukrainian Crimea, and especially if we are talking about adherents of the “Russian world”.
And about music. The conclusion here is simple: L’One has nothing to do with art. Topic closed!
P.s. Roman Zozulya, the truth always wins. Happy New Year!
Levan also said that the concert in Kyiv was the best for him in the past year.
Greetings to all my people in Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkov, Dnieper, Poltava! I love you and remember our recent meeting with warmth.
On February 14, he came to the Internet program “VDud”, where presenter Yuri Dud interviewed him.
On April 24, he released the track “Conquering the Waves” and a video for it together with Krec and Lyon, and then their joint track was included in their joint studio album - “Vol.1 NYC”, which was released on April 28. For unknown reasons, Levan was not present in the video and didn't rap from his verse.
On March 1, he released the track “Find Your Strength” together with Timati and Mot, and on March 24, a video for it.
On February 20, Dana Sokolova released her first album “Myslepad”, in which Levan took part in the recording of the joint track “Voice”, and on the same date a video for it was released.
On September 13, he released the track “7 days in business” and a short film for it. The directors and screenwriters of the film were not only Murat Nogmov, but also Levan himself. Also, Levan acted as the author of the idea and actor of the film.
On October 9, he released the track “Old School” and a video for it. This is the third video for the track, which Levan was again present in the image of Lev Valeryanich.
Personal life
Discography
Videography
| Year | Name | Director(s) | Album/Mini-album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "#All will be" | Rustam Romanov | Single |
| "Tattoo"(feat. Timati, Dzhigan, Karandash, Varchun & Krek) | Unknown | Single | |
| "Ae ae" | Unknown | Single | |
| "Give me your word" | Roman Trofimov | Single | |
| "Monday" | Rustam Romanov | "Satellite" | |
| "OK"(feat. Pencil, MO & Big Som) | Production House 567 | “Americana 2” (studio album by Karandash) | |
| 2013 | "All dancing elbows" | Rustam Romanov | "Satellite" |
| "Tusa"(& Timati, Dzhigan & Mot) | Pavel Khudyakov | Single | |
| "The future is out there"(feat. Timati) | Yuri Yarushnikov and Konstantin Korolev | "Satellite" | |
| "I'll be young" | Vladimir Shklyarevsky | "Satellite" | |
| "GQ"(feat. Timati & Sergey Mazaev) | Pavel Khudyakov | “13” (studio album by Timati) | |
| 2014 | "Mr. Heisenberg" | Alexey Bochenin | Single |
| "I will be there"(Video invitation to the “All or Nothing” tour) | Unknown | Single | |
| "Take yours" | Oleg Trofim | Single | |
| "Benjamin"(feat. Mot) | Konstantin Korolev and Evgeny Spivakov | “Azbuka Morze” (studio album by Mota) | |
| "Ocean"(feat. Fidel) | Rustam Romanov | "Lonely Universe" | |
| 2015 | "Mars"(feat. Nel & Alexander Babenko) | Ekaterina Telegina | "Lonely Universe" |
| "Utyosov"(& Timati) | Pavel Khudyakov | Single | |
| "GTO"(& Timati) | Zaur Zaseev | Single | |
| “I’ll say one last thing”(& Timati) | Rustam Romanov | Single | |
| “It’s still a long way from the start”(& Timati feat. Pavel Murashov) | Ekaterina Telegina | Single | |
| "All or nothing" | Rustam Romanov | "Lonely Universe" | |
| “I bless you for the rave”(feat. DJ Philchansky) | Andrey Krauzov and Artyom Lezhnev | Single | |
| "Hey bro!" | Vladimir Shklyarevsky | Single | |
| 2016 | "Tiger" | Alexey Kupriyanov | Single |
| "Neither you nor me"(feat. Rozhden) | Tatiana Muinho | “R2” (studio album by Rozhden) | |
| "From the very bottom" | ZEFIR VIDEO COMPANY | "From the very bottom" | |
| "Yakutyanochka"(feat. Varvara Vizbor) | L’One and Daria Balinova | Single | |
| “Grandchildren won’t understand” | Marat Adelshin | Single | |
Among modern performers there are many who can be called “one-dayers”: they quickly light up in the domestic starry firmament and just as quickly go out. This is not the case for singer L'One. His biography - both life and creative - is very rich and diverse, despite his rather young age. Below is a little more about this.
Childhood
The Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk is the place where the biography of L’One begins. The artist’s nationality is Georgian, and his real name is Levan Gorozia. He was born in one of the maternity hospitals of the city on the Yenisei on October 9, 1985, in an international family: the artist’s mother is Russian, his father is Georgian. They met as students - they studied at the institute together. After Levan, another son appeared in the family - Merabi, the youngest by five years.
In L’One’s biography, parents occupy a special place. Throughout Levan’s life, they (especially his father) are an indisputable authority for him and best friends. They raised their son in strictness (although the mother, of course, was always more lenient with the boy). WITH early years The future performer was instilled with ancient Georgian traditions - not only his father, but also his grandparents, to whom the boy went to the distant city of Sukhumi every summer, tried.
Levan lived in Krasnoyarsk until he was four years old. It was at this age that his parents, then the only child in the family, took him to even more distant and cold Yakutsk, moving there for permanent residence.
Youth years
It was thanks to this city that such a hobby as sports, and more specifically basketball, appeared in the biography of L’One. Levan himself later repeatedly admitted that he owed his upbringing to basketball - the development of fortitude, the desire to win, perseverance, and the ability to work in a team. Sports entered his life from the fifth grade and accompanied him for many years. And who knows, maybe Levan Gorozia’s star would have lit up not at all in the firmament of show business, but among sports names - after all, the young man was even a member of the Yakutia basketball team! However, as often happens, “if only it would interfere”: in this case, the knee injury that Levan received in one of the games interfered. I had to leave the sport. Levan's active brain urgently needed to turn its attention to something new.
Carier start
Music entered L’One’s biography when the future rapper was about thirteen years old. It was the end of the nineties, then a craze for the hip-hop industry began in Russia. This cup has not passed from Levan. He became interested in foreign texts of this genre, and then tried to write his own - about love, of course. When he got the Internet, the first thing the young man did was find programs with which he could make music. And away we go...
While studying in the tenth grade, Levan connected his life with radio. Journalism was not alien to him (and his mother dreamed that her son would choose this profession for himself), so after graduating from school he entered the Faculty of Philology. I studied for two years, while simultaneously performing in the student KVN team.
In less than twenty years, Levan worked on the radio, where he hosted two programs, hosted a program on local television, performed in KVN and wrote scripts for various corporate events. He was pretty famous person in little Yakutia, but he always wanted more. In addition, he did not give up his music studies - he wrote material for his first record. It was published in 2005, and the young man even organized its presentation - he had enough connections for this. However, he understood that there were few opportunities for creativity in Yakutsk, too much could not be achieved there, and his ambitions were great. That is why, having informed his parents that he wanted to enroll in journalism, Levan dropped everything and left to conquer Moscow.
Moscow: beginning
Levan left for the capital together with his friend Igor, who is now known as a performer under the pseudonym Nel. To be fair, L’One actually entered the journalism department (however, he also studied there for only two years, so he does not have a completed higher education). She and Igor also rented an apartment and began to try to survive in a huge metropolis. To have something to write music with (and also to eat), Levan got a job at the Next radio station, while working part-time at a creative agency. He later said that he brought his texts to the radio - but they were put aside. And then, perhaps considering that the group would be perceived better than an individual performer, Levan and Igor decided to create a duet. They called it Marselle - by analogy with the city of the same name in France, famous for its rap artists.
Marcelle
The friends clearly distributed responsibilities among themselves: Levan was responsible for the texts, Igor was responsible for the music. However, their naive hopes that the young group would be instantly noticed were soon dispelled in the most cruel way. For a whole year they worked “for themselves”, the songs went “to the table”. Gradually, little by little, they acquired the necessary acquaintances and connections.
The guys first gained fame thanks to the song “Moscow,” which stayed at the top of the charts for more than thirty weeks. But real popularity came to the budding artists after participating in the show “Battle for Respect” on the Muz-TV channel. Then they began to be recognized by sight. In the same year, friends released their first album called Mars, in which many famous artists took part - such as Vasily Vakulenko (Basta).
Levan and Igor worked together for seven years. In January two thousand and twelve, the paths of friends went their separate ways. Everyone began to perform independently. And Timati and his Black Star appeared in the biography of L’One.
Black Star
Levan signed a cooperation contract with the company (Timati) in May of the same year - despite the fact that, by frank admission, at first he was quite skeptical about Timati and his work. Timati explained the decision to collaborate with L’One by saying that he saw potential in the young performer and became interested in what he was doing. One way or another, the proposal to work together seemed appropriate to both parties, and the contract was concluded.
Levan developed it in his youth thanks to playing basketball. Therefore, it is not difficult for him to work at Black Star - on the contrary, he believes that achieving success alone is much more difficult than when there are people nearby who you can rely on. It was thanks to “Black Star” that a track appeared in L’One’s biography, which brought him enormous fame and became the most popular hit of all discos - “Everyone is dancing with their elbows.”
In addition, the company also practices joint creativity - for example, Levan was one of the co-authors of the no less famous song “Come on, goodbye”, collaborated with Dzhigan, Mot, Christina Si and Timati himself, of course.
It was at Timati's studio that Levan's first solo album was released a year later. It was called “Sputnik” and included fourteen compositions, six of which belonged to other artists of the label. After the release of the record, L’One went on tour around the country with fresh songs. He recorded his second disc (“Lonely Universe”) two years later.
Present time
Last year, L’One pleased fans with a new album called “Gravity,” which many critics and colleagues of the rapper rated quite highly and called the best of all that the singer has released. In addition, last year was marked for Levan by duet work with the granddaughter of the famous bard Yuri Vizbor (Varvara) - together they recorded the composition “Yakutyanochka”.
This year, Levan has already released four videos, visited the filming of several television programs, and continued his active touring activities. L’One also performs in the capital: on November 19, for example, his solo concert was held at Crocus City Hall with the participation of a symphony orchestra.
L'One: personal life
Levan’s biography is notable for one fact: he is an exemplary family man, faithful and loving husband and father. It is generally accepted that artists are flighty people, especially men, and every year they have new wives. L’One’s biography completely refutes this statement; Anya has been his only love for many years.
Levan met Anya thirteen years ago, while still a journalism student, and they got married in 2010. The artist does not hide his love for his wife and gratitude for her faith and support, because when they started dating, Levan was very, very far from his current popularity. In L’One’s biography, his wife (pictured) occupies the main place - she is his “third shoulder.”
Three years after the wedding, the Gorozia couple had their first child - a son, who was named Misha. Levan chose the name - all the Mikhails he knew were good people. He hopes his son will grow up the same way. Now little Misha is four years old. He doesn’t see his dad as often as both would like - most of the artist’s time is occupied by work, but when Levan has free time, he spends it exclusively with his family. “And let the whole world wait,” the singer himself comments. By the way, Misha helps his father with performances - L’One often takes him with him to concerts, and they perform the song “Tiger” together.
This year, Anya and Levan became parents for the second time: in April they had a daughter, whom the happy couple named Georgian name Sofiko.
Confession
L’One’s biography, despite its relatively young age and recent career, already has quite a lot of various awards. For example, he has repeatedly won the Music Box channel award as the best hip-hop artist, as well as the Ru.TV channel award in the same category.
- Loves to fish.
- Supports Lokomotiv and Liverpool.
- He loves high-quality sneakers.
- His younger brother works as his PR director.
- Owns a small business producing ringtones that replace waiting tones in mobile phones.
- He considers hard work to be the main secret of success.
- If it weren't for music, I would go in for sports.
- At the beginning of every year he shaves his beard.
- The rapper's father wanted his son to become a lawyer, although he himself was involved in creativity in his youth - Levan believes that it was from his father that he got such inclinations.
L’One’s biography is a vivid example of how, with the help of perseverance, hard work, self-confidence and, of course, talent, you can achieve the heights you dream of. And this is far from the limit of all the capabilities of the young artist.
29-year-old L’One, performer of the hit “Everyone is dancing with their elbows,” at one time tossed for a long time between the “serious” profession that his parents wanted for him and his favorite thing - music. The result speaks for itself: L’One is now on a large concert tour in Russian cities
Photo: Vladimir Vasilchikov
Rap artist L'One became famous several years ago when he worked as part of the group Marselle with his partner Nel. Two years ago he went on a solo voyage and began collaborating with Timati’s Black Star production center. In the near future, L’One will give concerts in 29 cities of Russia. Contrary to stereotypes about rappers, Levan (that’s the musician’s real name, and he introduces himself as Leva) is an educated and well-mannered person. In addition, he is an exemplary family man: everyone who was present at the shooting for OK! noted how kindly he treats his one-year-old son Misha.
Leva, it looks like you are a wonderful dad. How do you assess this role of yours?
To be honest, I’m not a very good dad, because I don’t communicate with my son as often as I would like - I’m rarely at home. But if I’m with my family, I switch completely, and let the whole world wait. The son is still small, so he doesn’t understand anything yet, educate him or not. And when he grows up, we will look for a common language with him. My character is quite complex, I am quick-tempered, I hope my son will be different.
Are you afraid of conflicts in advance?
It’s just that I myself am a copy of my father, and it was difficult for us to communicate. Now that I have grown older, and my father has accumulated worldly wisdom, we have learned to find a common language, and when I was young and ardent - especially in adolescence - we often butted heads. I want to avoid the same mistakes with my son.
Did your father raise you strictly?
Yes, we had many stories - for example, when I misbehaved or tried adult drinks. And my mother, in turn, tried to protect me and hid me “under her skirt.” (Laughs.) Probably, it was due to the fact that my father is Georgian and my mother is Russian. On the one hand, the father's harsh hand, on the other, the mother's democracy. But all this is good, because I grew up to be a fairly intelligent kid who respects people, and especially elders. In my dad’s homeland, Georgia, it’s customary: if an adult comes in, you need to stand up, if he speaks, listen to the end and not insert your weighty “I”.
Did you choose what to do yourself, or was your father’s opinion decisive?
The main thing is that nothing was forbidden to me, which is why I am sitting here with you now. (Smiles.) I wanted to play sports - I worked out, I wanted to play KVN - I played. My parents needed me to focus on my studies; this is a normal desire.
In Wikipedia it is rather mysteriously written about you that in your native Yakutsk you were a “media personality”. What would that mean?
Let's just say that there I achieved everything that a young man at the age of about twenty can achieve, I captured all the areas where I can express myself in one way or another. He worked on radio, television, and was even the director of the creative department of a media holding, which included two radio stations and two television channels.
And you had all this already at twenty years old?
(Smiles.) Yes. But still, the basis of my development was sports: in the sixth grade I started playing basketball. In tenth year I got into radio, and after school I entered the philology department, but later dropped out. I gained a lot of experience in the local media, so when I entered television and radio journalism in Moscow, I yawned in the back row for the first two courses and eventually transferred to correspondence classes. The advantage of this decision was that I had time for music, the disadvantage was that the profession sank into oblivion, because self-study plays an important role in correspondence courses, and, let’s say, I didn’t do that.
So are you my certified colleague?
Ungraded. The fact is that music completely took over my consciousness. So I passed the state exam, but didn’t have enough time for the diploma. The funny thing is that at the same time I went to my institute with master classes on the topic “The difference between an indie artist and an artist on a label.” The rector then said: “Well, if that’s the case, go on study leave.” True, it ended a long time ago.
So we come to the question of music...
(Smiles.) My passion for hip-hop began back in 1998. Basketball, wide pants, music - this culture was close to me. As my father said, we dressed “strange and funny.” At the same time, the Internet appeared in Yakutsk, and it became easier to search for information. I started with computer programs for mixing music. I started writing my first lines and rhymes, and then I plunged into it headlong and released my first solo album. Thanks to his contacts on radio and television, he even held a presentation in Yakutsk with posters and all that. Then he left for Moscow. True, I still went with the goal of developing in the musical field, and not to study...
So the journalism department has become an official excuse for the family?
Yes, I told my parents that I would study and become a journalist in Moscow. My father, however, more wanted me to study to become a lawyer, and my mother supported my journalistic inclinations. Until recently, both of them did not understand why I needed music, believed that it did not bring money, and did not even imagine that their son would be able to achieve something in this. In principle, they can be understood: a Georgian from Yakutsk who raps... (Laughs.)
I like your self-irony.
If it weren’t for hard work and a certain coincidence of circumstances, then perhaps I really wouldn’t have succeeded. I don’t consider myself talented, but through daily work I have what I have. Although, perhaps, on a subconscious level, I am trying to realize the dreams of my father, who played in the theater in his youth. I have great respect for him - he is a very hardworking person. He has always held leadership positions in the forestry sector. He and his mother, who still works as an accountant, are representatives of, let’s say, the middle section of the intelligentsia. Together they graduated from college in Krasnoyarsk and moved to work in Yakutia. Not only our family, but also our loved ones in Georgia rested on my father. Recently I received the highest degree of praise from him - although not personally, but through my mother. In one interview, I expressed my point of view regarding Russia and Ukraine. My father read it and said that it turns out that there is something in my head, he managed to plant some kind of seed of intelligence in me. (Laughs.)
Now he's probably very proud of you.
I think he understands that I chose the right path. My father’s colleagues sometimes ask him to help with tickets to my concert or with an album for their children. But he hides his emotions, so I don’t know.
Are you an only child?
I have a brother, he is five years younger. He also plays KVN and hosts events. Now that I’m on tour in Russia, I took it to help me. Before concerts there is usually an introductory part, when you need someone to come out and speak something to the audience, so he does this. Let's just say that I signed up for my freelance brother. Good to have around loved one, on whom you can completely rely. He has a bright head.
Has there ever been any rivalry between you?
No, we were next to each other throughout our childhood. I even think that sometimes he too zealously sets me as an example to himself. Now he is gaining experience and in the future he also wants to move to Moscow. In this regard, it will be easier for him than for me: he already knows where everything is happening, sees how each cog works in the mechanism of formation.
How did you develop? How did you live in Moscow at first?
I rented a one-room apartment with a friend with whom we created the group Marselle. In Moscow, no one was waiting for me, I ran to castings and tried to get a job on television. I thought that since I already had experience, I would come now and it would become clear to everyone how good I was, but for some reason they didn’t take me anywhere. (Smiles.) The first year I studied - my friend and I put our songs on the table - then I got a job at the Radio Next radio station, the only one at that time that played rap. I was desperately short of money, so at the same time I worked in creative agencies - I came up with scripts for holidays, then became a presenter in clubs and parties. And of course, taking advantage of his official position, he periodically brought songs to the radio with the words: “Hey, hey, look what!” The music director said: “Cool, well done!” - and put them aside. The songs probably weren't very good. (Laughs.) This continued until I brought our composition “Moscow”, which opened the Marselle group for listeners and occupied one of the lines of the Radio Next hit parade for thirty weeks. This was a significant milestone in my life: from that moment changes began, we released an album, and began to go on tour. And in 2011 we took a creative break.
And you started working alone?
Over the next year, I was at a crossroads because I had a wife, and I, like a normal man, had to earn money, and music at that time did not bring in a penny, plus my self-realization and self-esteem were somewhere at the bottom. Friends offered me a job, and I was ready to take it when I received advice from my father, which I listened to, probably for the first time in my life. He said I needed to focus on one thing instead of trying to sit on three chairs. So I didn’t go anywhere, but continued to make music and signed a contract with Black Star. But I didn’t close the door to journalism; the epistolary genre greatly appeals to me. I want to return to this when my process of becoming an artist is over. At 35 years old, I’ll probably be able to say something from the height of my experience.
What did Anya, your wife, say when your mental turmoil began?
She is like the wife of a Decembrist to me. She didn't care what I did. I feel like my back is covered with her, it helped me then and helps me now. The fact is that Anya appeared in my life when I still had nothing.
How did you meet?
Anya is my college love. I took it from someone else young man. This Georgian came from Yakutsk on a white horse and invited her to the cinema to see “Revolver”. (Smiles.) I remember that after we walked, I covered her with a jacket because it was cool... Since then we started a relationship. Next year it will be ten years that we have been together, five of which we have been married. She's a great mother, a great friend and lover, and she knows perfectly well that if I'm out until the early hours of the morning, it means I'm in the studio. We know each other like crazy.
Tell me, did the birth of your son change your worldview in any way?
I was in the maternity hospital when Anya gave birth, although not during the process itself, because I think that this is something secret that a man should not see. They immediately gave me my son in my arms. And I suddenly realized that now it was really time adulthood. Later, I came to realize why everything is done in this world. If earlier I was involved in stage diving - jumping from the stage into the crowd, then with the birth of my son I began to be afraid, not even for myself, but for the young people who are trying to catch me - they are also someone’s children! I began to take more care of myself, although by nature I am a crazy person: I ride a snowboard, I once flew into the stratosphere...
To the stratosphere? On what?
On a fighter plane. They let me steer.
Steer?!
(Laughs.) The pilot asked me over the intercom: “See what I’m doing?” I say: “Well, yes...” And he: “That’s it, take the lever.” And I was like, “What do you mean?!” In general, he controlled the MiG-29 fighter at an altitude of 14 thousand meters and at a speed of 1.5 thousand kilometers per hour. Of course, I was sweating then, but now I remember with a smile, it was a great event in my life. My son had just been born... (Smiles and thinks.) What else has he changed about me? Forced me to find strength even in moments when I was physically and mentally devastated. He doesn’t care what’s going on with me, he’s growing, he needs to dress and eat. And this realization that my son needs me moves me forward. I want him to have a brother soon. Or little sister.
Levan Gorozia, better known as rapper L"One, is a talented musician from distant Yakutia, who managed to conquer the capital without money or connections and contribute to the domestic rap culture. From 2012 to 2019 he was an artist at the Black Star production center, and later decided to start a new one stage in his life and set off on his own voyage.Childhood and adolescence
The future rapper was born on October 9, 1985 in Krasnoyarsk, in a friendly international family. His father is a purebred Georgian and runs a large forestry business. My mother is Russian by nationality and works as an accountant. The parents met while studying at Krasnoyarsk University and have been going through life hand in hand ever since. In 1985, their first child Levan was born, and five years later his younger brother Merabi was born. 
When our hero was four years old, the family moved to polar Yakutsk, where he spent the conscious part of his childhood and adolescence. Parents raised their sons in strictness, trying to instill in them honesty, decency, a sense of responsibility and other qualities necessary for real men. The children spent almost every summer with their grandparents in Sukhumi, so they were well acquainted with national Georgian traditions.
L"One in childhood
At school, Levan was an exemplary student, getting A's and B's until the ninth grade. He grew up as an athletic boy, successfully passed all GTO standards, and participated in school and regional competitions. In the sixth grade, the young man became seriously interested in basketball, achieved excellent results over several years and even became captain of the youth team of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), where he played number 12. But a knee injury put an end to his professional career. The young man left sports and took up hip-hop.
L"One in his youth
The first interest in this fashionable youth trend appeared in adolescence, and in high school, Levan already tried to record his own tracks, reading them into a tape recorder. He was inspired by the work of Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Onyx and Tupac Shakur, and in sports, Michael Jordan was and remains his constant idol.
The beginning of a musical career
After graduating from school, the young man entered the philological faculty of the local university. There he became interested in KVN, but did not give up his music studies. At the same time, he worked part-time at a radio station, wrote scripts for corporate events, and hosted a show on a cable TV channel.With the advent of the Internet, Levan’s musical activity reached a new level. Together with his friend Igor Pustelnik (rapper Nel), who had a computer at home, they recorded tracks using beats found on the Internet and mixed them using special programs. Over time, the guys came up with the idea of creating their own group, Marselle, and in 2005 they even released their debut album. And since in Yakutsk there were not enough opportunities to turn around full force, it was decided to go to conquer Moscow.
L"One and Nel in their youth
Parents were not happy that Levan dropped out of university and was planning to move to the capital. The father dreamed that his son would have a higher education and a decent profession, and was skeptical about his passion for music. Therefore, the young man had to convince his parents that he was going to continue his education at the Faculty of Journalism.
In 2005, having moved to the capital, Levan actually entered the journalism department of the Humanitarian Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting. True, a diploma about higher education he never received it - after successful completion State Examiner took an academic leave from which he never returned (but now he conducts master classes for current students at the same university).
L"One in his youth
At first, Levan had a hard time in Moscow - together with Igor they rented a tiny one-room apartment in Odintsovo, there was a catastrophic lack of money. Their creative ideas required considerable financial investments, so the guys took on any job, even selling counterfeit goods. Levan wrote scripts for holidays, worked in a creative agency, hosted corporate events and club parties.
In his third year, he got a job at Radio Next, the only radio station in Moscow at that time that played rap. Taking advantage of his official position, he occasionally slipped his tracks to the music editor, but his superiors did not consider it necessary to put them on air and put them “on the table” until better times. But the stubborn and purposeful Levan did not give up his attempts and managed to get his song “Moscow” on the air. Unexpectedly, this composition took a leading position in the radio station’s charts and stayed at the top for thirty weeks. The A-One TV channel included “Moscow” in rotation, and the track took 6th place in the local hit parade.
Marcelle – Moscow
From that moment on, the popularity of the Marselle group began to rapidly gain momentum, the guys signed a contract with the German record label “Phlatline” and, under its auspices, took part in the collection “I am the Russian dream vol.1”, which included tracks by Basta, Karandash, and other young rappers .
Way to success
In 2008, Levan (aka rapper L"One), as a representative of the group Marselle, took part in the show “Battle for Respect” on the Muz-TV channel. Gorozia lost the battle to his competitor, rapper ST, but in the next fight his comrade Nel managed to snatch victory Thanks to this, the ranks of their fans increased significantly, and the group became widely known among fans of Russian rap.L "One in “Battle for Respect” (2008)
In the same year, the group’s new album, “Mars”, was released, which included nineteen compositions, including the famous “Moscow”. Sasha Legend, Basta, ST, Teona Dolnikova, Dza-Dze and other performers took part in the work on the collection. The album was met with great interest, tours began throughout the country and neighboring countries, the group began to be invited to music festivals and fashionable rap parties.
In 2009, the guys delighted fans with the mixtape “Phlatline in da building,” thus celebrating the group’s fifth anniversary. In support of the album, a video was shot for the song “In Your House” and a tour was organized.
Marcelle ft. ST - In your home
Director Timur Bekmambetov gave the team an invaluable gift - in 2011, he made the song “Moscow” the soundtrack to his new film “Phantom”. Thanks to this, the group gained worldwide fame, and their tour map expanded significantly.
It would seem that the ambitious dreams of the musicians finally began to come true, all doors opened before them - live, create and rejoice, but at the end of the year the band members unexpectedly announced the end joint activities. Before this, Marcelle, rapper ST and DJ Booch for unknown reasons broke their contracts with the Phlatline label.
In 2012, L"One left the Phlathine label
The breakup of the group came as a complete surprise to their fans. The musicians explained the reason by a divergence of views on further creativity and began independent promotion in the music world. True, subsequently their paths crossed more than once - Igor repeatedly took part in the recording of L"One albums, and was also involved in producing many of its tracks.
L"One: about sports, music and changes in life
Black Star
In the spring of 2012, Levan Gorozia signed a contract with the young production center Timati Black Star and became a full member of the team, which was later joined by rapper Mot, Misha Marvin, Klava Koka, Yegor Creed and other talented Russian performers. In those days, Black Star was a convenient haven for musicians who had a lot of ideas in their heads, but did not have the money to implement them. 
L"One and Timati
Having become an artist of the label, L "One released two new tracks, “Everything will be” and “Give me your word,” for which expensive videos were shot. In June, the rapper took part in the recording of the scandalous “LET’S DATE,” which made Timati and Philip Kirkorov for several years irreconcilable enemies.
The following year, the artist released a full-fledged solo album, “Sputnik,” which included fourteen new tracks. Timati and other label artists took part in its recording, and the song “Everyone is dancing with their elbows” became an all-Russian hit. A video clip was shot for it, which in record time collected more than ten million views on YouTube.
L"One - Everyone dances with their elbows
Another striking work was the composition written by Levan, Timati and Sergei Mazaev for the promotion of GQ magazine. In addition to its creators, the video for this song featured Fyodor Bondarchuk, Denis Matsuev, Garik Martirosyan, Alexander Revva and other domestic celebrities.
Gradually, from a simple guy from a nearby street, Gorozia turned into a successful artist with a multimillion-dollar army of fans and a stable financial income. At first, he was comfortable within the walls of the label - he recorded songs, filmed videos, and actively toured with colleagues from Black Star. The musician willingly collaborated with other artists, as evidenced by his bright duets with Varvara Vizbor, Elka, Monatic and Max Barskikh. He began to appear on television, gave an interview to Yuri Dudu, and visited the “Evening Urgant” program.
L"One and Yolka
Besides musical activity Gorozia began to engage in other projects - he launched his own clothing line, made several films in which he acted as a director and actor. Soon he became uncomfortable within the framework of Black Star, which over time turned into a commercial empire with burger and barber shops, and the artist decided to leave the production center and go on a free run.
In 2019, Levan’s contract with Black Star expired, and the musician announced his resignation. For Timati this did not come as a surprise - conversations had taken place before, the main problem was copyrights to songs, videos and the use of a stage name. Levan was tired of constant touring, as well as the fact that he paid all the expenses (for the studio, musicians, recording, filming, etc.), and the label received the income.
Unfortunately, the musicians were unable to part amicably, and L"One was left with nothing - the production center reserved full right to dispose of his work and pseudonym.
Gorozia filed a lawsuit against Black Star and lost. The angry rapper filed a second lawsuit and expressed his attitude to what was happening in the track “Wind of Change,” where he calls Timati “a mountain sheep who ran away to a gold mine” and himself “an elbow dancer who does not know how to read a contract correctly.” Timati left it to the lawyers to sort out this issue, especially since this is not the only such case in recent times. In 2019, Yegor Creed left the production center, and his departure was also accompanied by a scandal and mutual claims. 
Levan shared his future plans in the “Evening Urgant” program, of which he became a guest in November 2019. He told the presenter that he plans to make a full-length film, open his own production center and, possibly, go into the restaurant business. Gorozia considers perseverance and hard work to be one of his most important qualities, thanks to which he always achieves what he wants.
Levan Gorozia – Wind of Change
Personal life of L'One
Levan met his future wife Anna Guseva while a student at the Moscow Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting. He first saw the girl at a student party dedicated to the beginning of the school year, and immediately decided that she would become his soulmate. 
He was not embarrassed that Anna was dating another guy, he quickly won her away from his rival and has not let her go anywhere since then. The lovers got married in 2012, and a year later the young couple had a son, Misha (09/25/2013).
L'One's son also plays basketball
The appearance of a child in the family radically changed Levan’s attitude towards life - if earlier he loved extreme entertainment and even flew into the stratosphere on a military fighter, now he has become much more careful and judicious.
L"One with his wife and children
On April 15, 2017, Anna gave her husband and son another gift - she gave birth to baby Sofiko. Levan’s happiness knew no bounds - he calls his daughter nothing more than a dandelion and can talk about her for hours.
You can see what an ideal father Gorozia is on the YouTube channel of Dmitry Shepelev, who launched in November 2019 new project"Folders". L"One became the first guest and revealed a completely different side, little known to his fans.
L"One now
After leaving Black Star, Levan Gorozia is glad that he is now the master of his own time. He will no longer have to go on tour all year round, but will have time to spend with his family and work on new material. He is experimenting with electronic music, but it is too early to talk about releasing a full-length album.Levan is also interested in photography and is collecting material for a new photo exhibition (the first took place in 2017).
At the end of 2019, L’One renewed relations with the Marselle group and was going to give a big tour with old comrades.
Anya is not only the wife and muse of one of the best Russian rappers, the mother of five-year-old Misha and ten-month-old Sofiko, but also a successful businesswoman. She has her own clothing brand, Inspiration Moscow, an important part of its work is helping charitable foundations. Anya spoke about helping others, family happiness and the principles of the wife of a Russian rapper in exclusive interview PEOPLETALK.
What were you doing before meeting Levan?
I was 17, I was at school and didn’t dream of anything special - I was an ordinary teenager.
How did you meet?
On the first of September in the first year at the Humanitarian Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting. M.A. Lithuanian in Moscow at a student party in honor of the first day of study. I was dating another guy then, Levan took me away from this boy and said: “That’s it, now you’re mine.” We've been living like this ever since.
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How has L’One changed since you met?
Well, at least he matured, became a father twice, but for me he is still the same.
What kind of father is he?
Amazing, the best father for his children! Attentive, sensitive, strict, reasonable, I don’t know a better dad.
Sweatshirt, Chipoodl; trousers, Uniqlo; sneakers, Poblenou
If Levan is left alone with the children, will he cope?
Well, with two, probably no, with one, yes. I haven’t taken that risk or tried it yet ( Laughs).
Are you strict parents?
I hope that there is a golden mean, I never wanted to be very strict and do not want to, but there must be boundaries, children must feel authority, but I hope that our children will not need strictness.
Do you have any rules in raising children that you adhere to?
Respect for elders, moral principles, attention to others, kindness, responsiveness, the desire to love the world despite the fact that it is shit.
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Does Misha know his father's songs by heart?
How does he react to his dad on stage?
He is delighted, he is a devoted fan, he shouted the loudest at the last concert at Crocus.
How has your life changed with the birth of your daughter?
Cool, I'm sleeping less, the house is louder, but that's great!
Who is it more difficult with your daughter or son?
With both, when there are two of them. One by one, this is a resort.
When everyone is home, how do you spend your day?
We watch TV, lie on the couch, eat, play games. At home, calmly.
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At your husband's concert, are you usually backstage or in the audience?
In the hall. I was backstage once when I took Misha to a concert, I like to be in the hall, all the energy is there, you feel everything, backstage it’s not like that. I definitely need to scream, jump, sing.
Are you your husband's biggest fan?
No, I'm after Mishani!
What is your husband's favorite song? Maybe one of those dedicated to you?
It will be immodest, but almost all of them are dedicated to me. ( Laughs.) But I love all the songs, it’s hard to say which one.
Is it difficult to be the wife of a popular rapper?
It’s not difficult for me, because I don’t perceive him as a popular rapper, he’s just successful in his profession that he chose, and I’m proud of him. There are just everyday difficulties. We can’t go to some places for a walk, even though we live next to Gorky Park, we can’t walk there at certain hours, because it will be uncomfortable for us, but in general it’s very normal.
Misha. Sweatshirt, GIVENCHY; trousers, Il Gufo; boots, Fendy. (DANIELONLINE.RU) Anna. Sweatshirt, Chipoodl; trousers, Uniqlo; sneakers, Poblenou
What's the most romantic thing your husband has ever done?
We have a lot of our own romantic moments, he is generally a romantic friend, so it’s difficult for me to single out. For 13 years there have been a lot of different things, he is a very attentive husband and man, we always have surprises, from the last one - he gave me a surprise trip to Amsterdam for my birthday, I flew with my friends to a concert.
(From the editor: For the shoot, which took place on February 14, Levan brought his son Misha and two bouquets for Anya!)
How do you see your life in 10 years?
Sipping champagne. The children have grown up, I can afford to eat slowly. I dream that all my family and friends will be healthy and happy.
I plan to develop my company, increase sales, expand the line, and also increase the number of orphanages that we help. Now, after four years of working with specific children, we know what everyone needs. And we know that through our activities we can help them fulfill their dreams and desires. I hope I have enough strength and team to ensure that there are more children whom we can help.
Misha. Sweatshirt, Dolce sports trousers, GIVENCHY.(DANIELONLINE.RU) Anna. Sweater, Free Age.
How does Inspiration Moscow work?
We have been doing charity events for the last two years, although there was a break due to my pregnancy. We organize charity days, sporting events, donating funds from training to help the orphanage and nursing department in the hospital we help. On April 7 in St. Petersburg at LOFT PROJECT FLOORS (Ligovsky Prospekt, 74) there will be a big event “Inspiration of St. Petersburg. Inspiration St. Petersburg", sports training and public talk with interesting personalities, all this will be combined with a market where, in addition to ours, there will also be St. Petersburg brands. And then we plan to do everything in Moscow.
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